Sunday, January 11, 2009

I finally picked a few challenges I think I have a good chance of actually completing. I still have the 1% Well Read Challenge going on until Feb 28, 2009 but I have 8 more books on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list to go (did not pace myself well) so I don't see myself finishing. I will try to complete at least 3 more though so I can at least acheive .5% for the year.

Dawn of She is too fond of Books hosts this one. I participated in this last year and only ended up reading 2 books for it. This year we are supposed to read at least 5 by December 31, 2009.

Here’s my list:

Dust of 100 Dogs by AS KingIn the Land of Invisible Women by Quanta A. AhmedThe Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. PearsonBad Girls Don’t Die by Katie AlenderWake by Lisa McMannFade by Lisa McMann

The 2009 ARC Reading Challenge

This one, hosted by Teddy Rose at So Many Books, So Little Time, requires that we read at least 12 ARCs in 2009. Ummm…no problem! I am only going to list actual ARCs and not books sent for review in another format (though that is allowed).

Here are my first 12:

Dust of 100 Dogs by AS KingFlygirl by Sherri L SmithA Fortunate Age by Joanna Smith RakoffTen Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-FattahNorth of Beautiful by Justina Chen HeadleyTell Me Who by Jessica WollmanTriple Shot Bettys in Love by Jody GehrmanAbsolutely Maybe by Lisa YeePrincess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day GeorgeDelicate Edible Birds by Lauren GroffWhere am I Wearing? By Kelsey TimmermanThe Music Teacher by Barbara Hall

2009 Young Adult Book Challenge

Also a no-brainer is J.Kaye’s Young Adult Book Challenge. Only 12 by December 31, 2009? I read 65 last year, so I think I’ll just try to beat that. I'm sure a fair number of these will be from debut authors. I have my eye on this list of awesome sounding books from the 2009 Debutantes and already have the following in my TBR:

Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Fairy Lust (now known as Fairy Tale) by Cyn Balog

The following are on the way (so I've been told!):

The Season by Sarah MacLean

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

The VC Andrews "Read the Good Trash" Movement

Thanks to Liviania for reminding me of this challenge in the comments (in my defense, it is nearly midnight). I'm only a "secret" participant because I read the Flowers in the Attic series and the Heaven series just a few years ago, and I don't know if I'll get around to reading them again this year. I do want to participate in any fun movement activities though, so that's why I have "secret" status. Thanks to Taren and Steph for hosting! If you want to join, go here.

Well Worth Watching Challenge

Joanne at Book Zombie gave me the Well Worth Watching Award which she designed herself. I think the button she created is so cool, I want to make a challenge out of it. That means every week or so during the rest of 2009, I am going to choose a blogger to receive the award and I’ll highlight their blog, hopefully including a short interview. So if I contact YOU, I hope you'll play along :)

Comment More Challenge

I know how much I love getting comments, and I need to get in the habit of leaving more comments of my own. In fact, I am challenging myself to reciprocate comments left on my blog. That means if you comment on one of my posts, I’m going to hunt down a post of yours on which I can leave a halfway meaningful comment (assuming you have a blog and post pretty regularly). If I get busy with lots of client projects, I might get behind on this, but I’m going to try to keep up.

Oh I can't wait to read Dust of 100 Dogs by AS King and Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. Very tempted to do a swap with you ;P I'm also doing the YA Book Challenge! I have about 5 books down I think...? lol I love the comment more challenge. I'm sooo lazy to do that challenge though.

I know, Alea! These days I gravitate towards the short ARCs to move my pile, so The Help is lucky I'm joining the Chunkster because I like the name so much - ha!!

J. Kaye - thanks for the welcome. I'll head over to yahoo asap.

Yan - I was extremely lucky to get the ARC of Dust (I begged the Flux rep at the Frankfurt Book Fair) so I might not be so inclined to give that one up. But you might have a good chance of swapping the other.

Good luck with the challenges, Lenore! I am also participating in the Chunkster Challenge's "Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big?" option. I couldn't resist. :-) And the ARC Challenge was no brainer for me what with all my current ARC's waiting in the wings.

That's nice that you're doing the LT Authors challenge too. I did it last year and won the prize. I'm doing totally different books than you, there are a lot more LT authors than there were before. I'm interested in your review of Delicate Edible Birds, quite the title. A lovely award button and an interesting self challenge. You are going to be busy. Happy reading in 2009.

Me, too, Lady tink! Flowers in the Attic is the ultimate book that 'sticks with you'. I came on here lookin for reviews on the Courtney book and "Rowan of the Wood". Just read the Rowan one recently and liked it a lot! Have you seen or read it?